- Bettinardi Golf welcomes the new year and the Hawaii PGA Tour swing with a limited-edition putter.
- The 2024 Queen B 6 Tiki features tropical aesthetics and a unique hosel.
- Limited run of 500 putters.
- Available Jan. 9 with a MSRP of $900.
Welcome to 2024! In the golf world, the start of the new year means the PGA Tour is in Hawaii and golf companies are rolling out Hawaiian-themed gear. Nothing like a bit of thematic marketing to let us know the weather in Hawaii is nicer than our weather right now.
That may sound snarky but “snark” is the opposite of what I think. Seeing the sunshine in Hawaii gives me hope that it won’t always be cold here. Spring is on the way!
For a number of years, Bettinardi has celebrated the Hawaiian swing with the release of a “Tiki” themed putter. These putters feature island-inspired aesthetics and an iconic plant or animal centerpiece design. In the past, Bettinardi has added turtles, orcas, sharks and even a pineapple (right side up) to their Tiki releases.
This time around, Bettinardi’s Tiki limited-run putter features the majestic manta ray.
What makes the Tiki QB6 non-stock?
Before we explore the Tiki aesthetics, let’s take a look at the putter side of the story. As you know, a limited-edition putter should give us something we can’t find in the store. It should stand out structurally as well as visually.
The Queen B6 is one of Bettinardi’s most popular heads. As such, Bettinardi includes the QB6 in nearly every Queen B lineup. That said, they have never released a stock version with a plumber’s neck. Prior to this release, if you wanted a QB 6 with a plumber’s neck, you needed to pay big dollars for a Hive or custom putter.
The face of the 2024 Tiki QB6 is also unique. One might initially think the tribal-themed face milling is just for looks. Looks are part of the story but that milling also influences feel and performance.
The face milling on the 2024 Tiki QB6 removes quite a bit of metal. As a result, less metal contacts the ball at impact. This makes the putter feel softer. For me, a softer putter face usually translates to a slower rolling putter. If you tend to blow putts by the hole, a softer face could help you with distance control.
Specifications: Bettinardi Queen B 6 Tiki Limited-Run Putter
- Material: 303 stainless steel
- Construction: CNC milled
- Finish: Deep Sea TPT
- Face: Fancy Face
- Neck: Milled plumber’s neck
- Toe Hang: 1/8 (3:30)
- Weight: 356 grams
- Shaft: Stepless steel
- Grip: Tiki Lamkin Deep Etch Pistol
- Production run: 250
- MSRP: $900
The Island Aesthetic of the 2024 Bettinardi QB6 Tiki
The 2024 Bettinardi Tiki Queen B 6 is undoubtedly island-inspired. The fonts and the graphics all play into the tropical theme. The tribal engraving on the face even continues up the front side of the neck.
The tribal-styled manta ray anchors the design, swimming its way along the putter’s sole.
The best aesthetic element of the 2024 Bettinardi Tiki QB6 is probably the one that could be overlooked: the blue finish. The Deep Sea TPT finish is subtle and spectacular.
Like the ocean, the finish has depth. The finish moves from light to dark in different parts of the putter, providing the perfect setting for the swimming manta ray.
Five Fun Facts About Manta Rays
Did you see the cool tribal manta ray on the bottom of the putter and on the headcover? Being that manta rays are one of my favorite sea creatures, let me dust off my degree in marine biology (not lying) and share a few fun facts about the mysterious manta.
Manta rays are fish.
Though the manta ray looks nothing like a trout, it is in fact a fish. Granted, the term “fish” is a broad one, including bony fish like trout and cartilaginous fish like sharks. Manta rays are also cartilaginous, making them more shark-like than trout-like.
Manta rays have big brains.
Did you know a manta ray has one of the largest brain size to body size ratios found in fish? I didn’t know that, probably because I didn’t even think of manta rays as having heads. As it turns out, there is a lot of brain packed in there (somewhere). Though the research on manta ray intelligence is ongoing, their brain size and demonstrated curiosity leads scientists to believe they are quite intelligent.
Manta rays are filter feeders.
Though sometimes depicted in movies as monsters, manta rays are quite docile. They are filter feeders. Like whales, manta rays swim around and let the food-laden water flow through their mouths. The mouth may be large but it’s not scary. The mouth of a manta ray looks more like an open grocery bag than the toothy maw of a shark.
To clarify, a manta ray did not kill Steve Irwin. That was a stingray and, yes, those can be dangerous.
Manta rays must always be swimming.
Like sharks, manta rays must constantly keep swimming to stay alive. They swim with their huge mouth propped open to keep water and, more importantly, oxygen circulating through their gills.
Manta rays are covered in slime.
I know, all fish are slimy. However, manta rays are really slimy. One might assume the slime on their skin makes them more hydrodynamic but it is actually there to prevent bacterial infection. In some ways, manta ray slime works just like the oils in your skin. Should you have the chance to touch a manta ray, don’t. You don’t want to wipe off the slime and make them more prone to infection.
Final Thoughts on the Bettinardi Limited-Run Tiki QB6 Putter
The Bettinardi 2024 Tiki Queen B 6 Limited-Run putter sets a great tone for the coming year. Not only do we get to dream of sunlight and warmth but also of the ocean itself. The Tiki QB6 is interesting but not overstated. The vibe of this putter matches the vibe of the manta ray in its habitat.
Rather than exploding from the surf, the Tiki QB6 swims gently up from the depths. If it was possible for a putter to be relaxed, this would be that putter.
While it is definitely not island time where I live, I appreciate the tropical daydreams evoked by the Bettinardi QB6 Tiki. My favorite thing about winter is knowing that it ends eventually. As I sit in the middle of it, I am grateful for anything that helps me remember that fact.
Find out more about the Bettinardi 2024 Queen B 6 Tiki putter at Bettinardi.com
FAQ: Bettinardi 2024 Tiki Queen B 6 Limited-Run putter.
Do you really have a degree in marine biology?
Not exactly. My degree is actually in aquatic biology since it focused both on freshwater and saltwater ecosystems.
How many Tiki putters has Bettinardi produced?
I think that this Tiki brings the count to eight. If you are looking to start a collection, that’s not an impossible number to acquire.
Do people actually play these limited editions?
I hope so. At the end of the day, they are made for rolling balls. One of my playing partners games the orca-themed SS18 Slant Tiki from 2021 and swears he will never need another putter. Seems mental to me but he does roll it really well.
Does Bettinardi have other annual limited-edition putter releases?
While many of Bettinardi’s limited releases are Hive-only, there are a few that are larger releases each year. Every Black Friday, they release limited versions of their new putter lines. This time it was the new BB line. I picked up a purple haze BB1W. It’s a winner. Last year, there were Nerf-, Transformers- and Monopoly-themed releases as well. Perhaps those will show up again in 2024.
